Method of and apparatus for making coils



Oct. 7, 1930. R. F. SEDGLEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING COILS Filed Feb. 6, 1926 4 Shee'ts-$heet 1 Oct. 7, 1930. R. F. SEDGLEY 1,777,900

METHOD OF AND RPPARATUS FOR MAKING COILS Filed Feb. 6, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 0/1/L/NE. 3'3- FIG. I.

Oct. 7, 1930. R. F. SEDGLEY 1,777,900 I METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING COILS Filed Feb. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 45 Smntoa T iia Oct. 7, 1930. R. F. SEDGLEY I METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR. MAKING COILS Filed Feb. 6, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 atented Oct. 7, 1930 UNITED STA BEGINALD F. SEDGLEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA METHOD OE AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING COHfi Application filed February a, 1926. serial a... 80,480.

The object of this-invention is to devise a novel method of and apparatus for making coils, wherein a continuous travel is imparted to a wire and during such continuous travel the wire is subjected first to a forming operation and thereafter to a coiling operation. The resultant product is cut into desired lengths and fed to containers which'are progressively moved into receiving position.

The coil in a container is subjected toa tangling operation, and the container can then-be closed and is readj; for shipment. With the aboveand ot er objects in view which will hereinafter more clearly appear,- my invention comprehends a novel method.

of and apparatus for making coils. It further comprehends novel feedin mechanism, novel cutting mechanism, nove;

means for packaging the cut coils, and novel means for tangling the coils. I

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly ap pear in the detailed description andtheappended claims. 3

' For the purpose of illustrating the inven-' tion, I have shown in the accompan 'ng drawinga typical embodiment of it, which,

results. It is, however, to be understood that this embodiment is typical only and that the various instrumentalities of which my inven-' tion consists can be variously arranged and organized, and that the invention is not, therefore, limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of anapparatus for making coils, embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is aside elevation of parts shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is" a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure .4 is a section on line :of-

Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an end elevation illustrating a portion of the gearing. p g

'. Figure 6 is a side elevation of the construction seen in Figure Figure 7 is a top plan view of a portion of the package feeding mechanism.

, ing ta Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Figure 9. A i

Figure 9 is a sectional plan view' ofthe package feeding mechanism, thesectio'n be-' lien on line 9-9 of Fig ure 1; Figure 10 isa top plan view of the machine. Figure 11 is a lan view of the wire to show the manner inw ichitis flattenedr V Figure 12 is a top plan view of' the cutting mechanism. Figure 13is a perspective view of the finished product. v. Figure 14' is a section on line I ls-14: Fi re 1.

imilar numerals of corresponding parts. 7

' Referring to the drawings 1 designates the frame ofthe machine, the

reference indicate 05 constructionand arrangement ofwhich may to it a gear 7 which meshes with a gear8 in practice, w11l give reliable and satisfactory fixed to a shaft 9 journalledin the frame. The shaft 9 carries a roll 10, and a roll 11 is in rolling contact with the roll 10. The

roll 11 is mounted on'ball bearing journals 12 having adjusting screws 13 to regulate the pressure. 1 The rolls 10 and 11 are formguide 21. The side plate of the head of the forming mechanism is made in section to provide a slot or side opening 22 so that the wire 14 can be moved through such slot into engagement with the forming rolls. The wire,.after passing between the forming rolls essum 19 and 11, is in the form of a thin ribbon or band as shown at 23, see Figure 11.

The formed wires next pass around a stationary grooved rod 24, see- Figure 10, carried by a slotted arm adjustably secured to a boss on the frame by a suitable fastening device pa ing through the slot in the arm. The pa sing of the wire around the rod 24 over 3 a," bar or blade 86 causes it to assume the form of a coil as soon as it leaves the take up rolls 27 and 28. The diameter of the coil depends on the position of the rod 24 relatively to the blade 86.

The feed roll is a driving roll and is mounted on ball hearings on a shaft 29 which carries a car 30, see Figure 10, which meshes wit a gear 31, see Figure 3, fixed to a shaft 32 journalled on the frame and having a gear 33, see Figure 3, whichis driven by a gear 34 on the shaft 6. This shaft 6 has a hand wheel 35.

The feed roll 28 has its outer portion of v hard rubber, while the roll 27 is of metal.

' 47 whichis moved downwardl The side of the head of the frame of the feed rolls is slotted as at 36, see Figure 1, so that the. formed band can be brought into the front of which is fixed a stationary blade 41. A blade 42 is slidably mountedin the guide frame and has a cutting edge 43.

This cutting blade 42 has connected with it, one end of a link 43, the opposite end of which is connected to a lever 44 fulcrumed at 45 on the frame and controlled by a lever. The lower end of the lever 46 has guided in it for. limited vertical movements. plunger {byte spring 88 and has its bottom rounds his" lever 46isjfu1crumed on themachine'frame and the plunger 87 is in the ath o'f'a stud 47 adjustably secured to a; sli e bar 48 by means of a bolt 49, see Figure '9." This bar 48- con trols both 7 the. cutting mechanism and the packagefeeding mechanism, and is, in turn.

controlled by a timing mechanism be hereinafter described." 7 The frame has connectedwith it a sup which will;

port 50, see Figures 1 and 8, having a shoul der 51 on its upper face between which and a guide ring 52 is mounted a revoluble ring 53 having in its outer periphery circumfer-' entially spaced recesses 54. The ring 53 has upwardly extending pins 55 which pass through a package carrying plate 56. and

serve to osition a sprin band 57 which is bent to orm a'series' 0 circumferentially spaced pockets 58 which receive the packages 38 which are in the form of cartons or boxes.

The guide ring 52 has a spider, the hub of which is recessed to receive the hollow stud 59 which extends u wardly throu h the plate 56. The plate 56 as in its perip ery circumferentially spaced notches or recesses 60.

The slide bar 48 is cut out, as at 61, see Figure 9, to receive a pawl 62 having teeth 63. This pawl 62 is pivoted to the rod 48 at 64 and a spring-65 tends to move the pawl towards therevoluble ring 53, which latter is partially revolved when the slide rod 48 is moved forwardly. The forward end of the pawl 62 is curved or bent inwardly to form a cam face. 1

A sprin actuated detent pawl 66 is adapted toenter. the recesses 54- and prevents the rotation of the ring 53 in a reverse direction.

The forward end of the slide rod 48 travels in a guide 67, and is provided with an adjustable stop 68 adapted to enter ayrecess 60 and serve as a stop member for the plate 56. The slide bar 48 is guided on the frame, and has adjustably fixed to it, by fastening devices 69, a stop 70 which limits the forward travel of the slide bar. A bar 71 is fixed to the bar 48 and has connected to it a desired nufnber of springs 72 which are connected to the frame so that the tendency of the springs is to advance the bar 48. This bar 48 has fixed to it a contact member 73, see Figures 1 and 2, which is in the form of an angle and is in the path of a pin 74 carried by a worm wheel 7 5. This worm wheel 75 is driven by a worm 76, the shaft of which is provided with a gear 77 meshing with a gear 78 on a shaft 79 journalled on the machine frame.

'The shaft 79 has fixed to it a gear 80, see

Figures 1 and 3, which meshes with a gear 82 on a shaft 83. The gear 83 meshes with the gear 7 on the driving shaft 6. The gear 7 as shown in Figure 3 is a double gear which can-be moved into or out of mesh with the gear 8 or with a gear 84 on the shaft 9. This gear 84 meshes with a gear 85 suitably mounted and meshing with the gear 82.

If the continuous length of coil fed into a carton is to be used as an abrasive or polishing material it is advantageous to tangle it, and I automatically accomplish this result by compressed air injected into a coil containing carton. The compressed air may come from any desired source of supply, which, preferably, is produced by the machine itself.

The air compressor may be in the form of a standard type of a single piston reciprocating compressor 89 driven from the gear 75 by a gear 90. A conduit 91 leads from the compression chamber of the compressor through the hollow stud 59 to a plurality of diverging nozzles 92 the discharge ends of which are above a pair of filled cartons. The conduit 91 has a four way valve 93 of conventional construction controlled by an arm 94 on the slide bar 48.

The operation will now be apparent to those skilled in this art and is as follows 1,-

Assuming first that it is desired to form coils from, a wire or strip of material having any desired contour in cross-section and that it is to be subjected to a forming or flattening operation before being coiled, the wire, wound on s through the slot 22, see Figure 1, so that the two wires .willrbe received between the flat tening rolls and 11. For this purpose, the hand wheel is actuated to bring the wire between the flattening rolls- The wire is then drawn forwardly and passed under the rod 24 which is preferably provided with annular ages or cartons 38 are guide grooves. The wire is then drawn u 'wardly over the plate 86 and is threaded through the slot 36 of the frame intocontact with the-take up rolls 27 and 28. The packplaced in pockets 58, the flaps being in their open position. 1

The belt 4 passes around the pulley 3 and also around the pulley 5 fixed to the drive shaft 6, so that the drive shaft 6 is now revolving.

' Assuming that the parts are ifi the-position shown in Figure 1, the gear 7, fixed to the drive shaft 6, meshes with the gear 8 fixed to the shaft 9 so that the lower flattening roll 10 will be driven, and, as the upper flattens ing roll is in contact with the roll 10, the second roll will be driven, thereby forming or flattening the wire or strip of material. At the same time, the feed rolls 2'Land 28 are driven, and, since the gear 34 on the driving shaft 6 meshes with the gear 33 on the shaft 32, the latter shaft is driven together with its gear 31, see Figure 1. The gear 31 meshes with the gear, 30, see Figure 10, on the shaft 29 of the lower feed roll 27. The upper feed roll 28 has its contact portion of less density or is made of hard rubber, and is in rolling contact with the lower feed roll 27, so that the two feed rolls 27 and 28 will be driven, thereby effecting the forward feed of the wlre.

The operator nowstarts the motor 2, and, as thewire 14 passes from the flattening rolls 10 and 11, it is in the form of a thin band or ribbon 23, as will be understood from Fig. ll.

This flat or other form of band passes beneath the rod 24 which is carried by a bracket 25 which is adjustably supported. The pur- ,The finished product in a tan gled condition is shown at 95, Figure 13.

pose of this adjustment is to enable one to make coils of different diameters. The diameter of the coils depends on the angular relation of the blade 86 and the rod 24. It will beunderstood thatthe wire is under tension so that as it passes around the rod '24 and over the blade 86, coiling action is effected.

It will be seen that the bracket 25 due to the slot and pin connection 26 is capable-of a universal adjustment, so that the machine can e adjusted to make coils of different diameters.

Assuming that the machine is continuously running, the strips in the form of a coil ass down the guide chute39, which is provided with a plurality of channels so that ea ch separate coil is discharged into a separate carton 38. V

I provide means for cutting the coils into predetermined lengths or weightsto be recutting mechanism Iemploy a timing mechanism.

In the operation just described,fthe timing is accomplished by the gear 82 which meshes with the gear 7 and also with the gear 80, which latter is mounted on the'shaft 7 9,the shaft of which carries the gear 78. d This gear 78 drives the gear 77 and thereby the worm 7 6 thus revolving the worm wheel 75. Theworm wheel is provided with a pin 74 which travels in the path. of a contact member 7 3 on the slide bar 48, and, assuming that the gear 75 is'travelin in a clock-wise direction, see Figure 1, the pin 74 cooperating with the contact member 73 will cause the slide bar 48 to be moved rearwardly, thereby increasing the tension of the springs 72 until the pin 74 passes out of engagement with the contact member 7 3, The slide bar 48 is moved forwardly by the springs 72, and the pin 47 carried by said bar strikes the plunger 87, see Figure 1, thus rocking the lever 46 of the cutting mechanism, see Figure 1,.and actuating the lever 44, see Figure 12, to effect the forward cutting stroke of the movable knife 42, so that its cutting edge 43 will cut the'coiled bands 23. The forward movement of the slide bar 48 also causes the step by step advance of the plate 56 which forms a table to support the cartons.

As the slide bar 48 moves forwardly the teeth 63 on the pawl 64 enter the recesses 54 of the rotatable ring 53 and causes the latter to advance two steps so that the two boxes which have been filled will be moved out of filling positionand the next two boxes or cartons will be brought into filling position.

The slide bar 48 is provided with a stop 70 which limits the forward movement of the slide bar 48 and prevents any overrun of the plate or carton carrier 46.

The rearward movement of the plate 56 is prevented by the detent 66. When the slide .85 ceived in a carton 38, and for controll ng the timing will be an air compressor Laue bar 48 reaches theforward end of its forward movement, the stop 68 on the bar enters a notch or recess 60 so that, during the filling of the cartons they will be accurately positioned beneath the channels in the guide chute 39.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that all that the operator has to do is to see that the machine 1s supplied with spools of material, and to keep the pockets 58 filled with cartons, and to remove the filled cartons, and the entire operation of the machine is automatic.

I provide means for effecting the tangling of each length of coil which has been fe through a carton before the carton carrier 56 is advanced. This can be accomplished in any desired manner, but for purpose of illustration, I have shown the worm wheel meshing with a worm gear 90 which actuates 89 of any conventional construction, thereby creating a source of compressed air. The conduit 91 leads from the compression channel of the compressor through the hollow stud 59 to the air nozzles 92 the discharge ends of which are positione above the two cartons which have been filled, and the discharge ends of these nozzles are bent so that the air will be discharged into the cartons to cause awhirling actlon and thereby the entanglement of the different portions of the coils. As the carton carrier is advanced the nozzles close one side flap of the cartons with which they are cooperating.

The passage of the compressed air to the nozzles is controlled by the arm 94 on the slide bar 48, so that the valve 93 is given a quarter turn which effects the opening an closing of the valve to cause a puff of compressed air to pass through each nozzle into its carton. The carton carrier 56 is now ad- 7 vanced, and the operator closes the package so that the carton is 'now in condition for shipmen It is advisable in a machine of this character to have the timing mechanism so adjusted that different weights or lengths of the material can be fed into the cartons, and, for thispurpose, I provide the idler 85, so that when the gear 7 5 is moved outwardly the done through the gear 7 gear 84, gear 85, gear 82 and gear which enables a greater weight or a greater amount of ma terial to be discharged into a carton.

It will, of course, be apparent that it is within the scope of this invention to form coils from lengths of material without subje'cting the material to a flattening operation,

A flat sheet or band may be employed in lieu.

of a wire which is not in the form of a band. In such case, the pressure between the rolls 10 and 11 is reduced, and the material is fed in the same manner as already described, the

only difference being that the strip of ma- -or formed in such a mann terial from which the coils are formed is not subjected to a flattening operation.

When the slide bar 48 is moved rear-wardly, the pin 47 .causes the spring pressed plunger 47 to be moved upwardly without operating the lever 46. The forward end of the pawl 62 is in the form of a cam so that, when the slide bar 48 is moved rearwardly, the teeth 63 are cammed out of engagement with the rotatable ring 53 which operates the carton carrier 56. If the coils are tangled, the material 95 is adapted to be used for abrasive or polishing but, in case it is not desired to use it for an abrasive or polishing, the tangling operation can be dispense When an abrasive or polishing material orarticle is to be made, the wire or band from which it is formed is preferably of a'noncorrosive nature, and a material such as nickel steel wire may be used.

If it is desired to form coil springs it will be apparent that the strip may be made of spring or other metal which may or may not be subjected to a forming operation, and continuous lengths of coiled springs can be cond tinuously and automatically formed.

This d serves as a take up roll for the wire or band which is being fed and compensates for any stretch of the material during the operation.

It will be apparent that my present invention is also adapted to be employed for winding the material on spools, in which case the wire or other material can pass directly from the setof forming rolls to the set of take up rolls.

If a take up roll becomes worn the operator can move the strip of material 23 to an adjoining groove on the rod 24 so that a fresh surface of the take up roll will co-operate with the strip.

For purpose of illustration, I have shown the forming rolls as arranged to roll a flat strip, but it is within the scope of my invention to have the strip which is formed by the forming rolls 10 and 11 of anydesired contour in cross section, for example, the shape may be diamond shaped, oblong,

er t at in cross section it will have any desired number of abrasive ed es, and the contours in cross section whic can be formed are too numerous to herein specifically mention. It will be apparent from the disclosure herein that by the term coiling operation and means to effect the coiling of the strip of material a preferred embodiment thereof which will give, in practice, satisfactory and reliableresults, it is to be understood that this embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-; ters Patent, is:

1. The method of making coils consisting in continuously feeding a strip of material and durin such food subjecting it to a forming operatlon to vary its form in cross section, then to a coiling operation, and mechanically cutting ofi predetermined lengths of coils in timed relation with the forming and coiling operations.

2. The method of making coils which con- 'sist in continuously feeding a strip of material, and during such feeding subjectingit to a forming operation to vary its form in cross section and a coiling operation feedically operated means to cut the coiled mateing cartons into receiving position, discharging the coil strip' into cartons and severing the strip into predetermined lengths of coils after it has been fed into cartons.

3. The method of forming coils, which consistsin coiling a strip of material, feeding it into a container, and then injecting fluid into said container to efi'ect the tangling of the coil.

4. In a coil making machine, means to feed a strip of material, means to coil the material, means to feeds. containerinto position to receive the coiled material, and mechanrial into predetermined lengths.

5. In a coil making machine, means to feed a strip of material, means to coil the material, means to. feed a container into position to receive the coiled material, means to out the coiled material into predetermined lengths, and means to tangle the coiled material into a bunch.

6. In a coil making machine, means to feed a strip of material, means to form the strip to var its contour in cross section, means to efl ect the coiling of the formed strip and means mechanically operated in timed relation with the forming and coiling means to cut the coiled strips into predetermined lengths.

7. In a coil making machine, means to feed a strip of material, means to form means to effect the coiling of the formed strip, means to cut the coiled strips into predetermined lengths, means to feed container into position to receive the cut coils bunches.

8. In a coil making machine, means to feed a strip of material, a member around which the strip passes, a blade to which the strip passes under tension from said memher, and means to relatively adjust said member and blade to determine the diameter of the coil produced. I

9. In a coil making machine, a set of rolls to recelve the strip of material to be treated, coiling mechanism to which the strip passes, a second set of rolls to which the strip passes and having oneof its rolls of less density than the other, and driving means for said sets.

10. In a coil making machine, aset of forming'rolls, a set of take up rolls, coiling mechanism to which the material passes from said forming rolls and which passes from the coiling mechanism to said take up rolls, and actuating means for said rolls.

11. In a coil makin machine means to feed a strip of materiaI, means to effect the coiling of the strip, cutting-off mechanism ad] stable timing mechanism to control said the strip,

cutting-off mechanism, and actuatin means I for said feeding means and said mec anism.

12. In a coil making machine, a strip feeding mechanism, stri coiling mechanism,

means to progressive y feed as arate contalners into position to receive the C01l6d strip, cutting of! mechanism to sever the strip, timing mechanism for said cuttin of! mechanism: and said container fee ing mechanism, and means cooperating ith said mechanism and said means to e ect the cyclical operation .of the machine.

13. In a coil making machine, a set of cooperatin forming rolls, means to drive one of said orming rolls, a set of take up rolls,

coiling mechanism between said sets, and a means to drive one of'said take u rolls at a diiier'ent speed from that of t e driven forming roll;

14- In a strip treating machine, a-set of co-operating forming rolls, means to drive one of said forming rolls, a set oi take up rolls,

of rolls and means to drive one of said take up rolls at a greater speed than'the driven speed of said driven forming roll.

' 15. In a coiling machine, a'set of formin I rolls, means to drive one of said rolls, whic frictionally drives the other roll of the set, coiling mechanism to which the material bein treated passes from said set, a set of ta e up rolls, each being of a different degree of hardnessthan the other and to which the material being treated passes from said coilcoiling mechanism between said sets and means to tangle the cut coils into ing mechanism, and means to drive one of said take up rolls and thereby cause it to drive the other take up rol 16. In a coiling machine, spools for the material to be treated, tension means for said spools, a set of feeding rolls to which the material passes from said spools, coiling mechanism to which the material passes from said feeding rolls, a second set of rolls to which the material passes from said coiling mechanism, means to effect the drive of said sets of rolls, and means to intermittently cut the coiled material passing from said second set of rolls.

17. In a rolling machine, a frame having a roll carrying head with an upper and a lower cooperating roll and with the head open throughout its length at both sides to provide for the material being treated being passed laterally through said opening into engagement with the rolls, and means to revolve the rolls.

18. In a rolling machine, a plurality of sets of upper and lower cooperating rolls, a

head for each set, each head having bothsides open so that the material being rolled can be threaded into engagement with the rolls of each set, and actuating means for said rolls. I

19. The method of making curled wire which comprises rolling wire to flatten it, maintaining the flattened wire while moving under tension, and causing the flattened wire while moving and under tens1on to pass over a curling edge which imparts to the w1re an inherent tendency to curl.

20. The method of making curled wirewhich comprises passin wire continuously between rolls thereby flattening the wire, feeding the flattenedwire continuously be tween feed rolls whereby the flattened wire is maintained under tension, and causing the tensioned flattened wire, while maintained under tension and moving continuously, to pass over a curling edge thereby imparting to it an inherent tendency to curl.

21. The method of making curled wire which comprises flattening wire while moving continuously, imparting to the flattened wire, while moving continuously, an inherent tendency to curl, maintaining the flattened wire under tension, thereby preventing curling thereofland then relievmg the wire of tension, thereby permitting it to curl.

22. A machine for making curled wire comprising rolls operative to flatten wire, feed rollsoperative to advance the flattened wire for drawing the flattened wire over said curling edge and for maintaining the wire under tension.

24. A machine for making curled wire comprising rolls adapted to receive wire between them and operative to flatten said wire, feed rolls adapted to receive the flattened wire between them and operative to advance said wire and to maintain it under tension, and means arranged to act on the tensioned wire to impart to it a tendency to curl.

25. A machine for making curled wire comprising a pair of wire flattening rolls, a pair of feed rolls adapted to draw the flattened wire between them, means for drivin said pairs of rolls at a relative speed whic will maintain the flattened wire under tension, and curling means arranged to act on the tensioned flattened wire.

26. A machine for making curled wire comprising a wire curling member, continuously running means for advancing the wire, means for maintaining the wire under tension while passing said curling member and for 'freeing it of tension after passing said curling member, and intermittently operative container-filling means for the tensionfreed curled wire.

27. A machine for making curled wire comprising continuously running means for feed ing and tensioning wire, means for imparting a curling tendency to the wire, means for filling the curled wire, freed of tension, into containers, and means overned by the. feeding means for control ing the operation of the filling means.

REGINALD F. SEDGLEY.

continuously and to maintain the flattened wire under tension, and means operative on the continuously advancing flattened wire under tension to impart to it an inherent tendency to curl.

23. A machine for making curled wire comprising continuously revolving rolls operative to flatten wire, a curling edge, and means 

